Senior receiver Jamar Newsome developed into playmaker for UCF

Newsome struggled to make transition from high school to college

(STEPHEN M. DOWELL/ORLANDO…)

November 24, 2010|By By Iliana Limon | Orlando Sentinel

UCF senior receiver Jamar Newsome was a caustic ball of frustration and fear.

He was both angry and worried that he would never move up UCF's depth chart. Newsome did not catch his first pass with the Knights until the seventh game of the 2008 season. He redshirted his freshman year, so it was the equivalent of not catching a pass for nearly three high school seasons.

Newsome credits fellow senior receiver Brian Watters, who is his roommate and best friend, for helping him get through a brutal transition to college football.

"I was really in a slump, especially when I couldn't get on the field," Newsome said. "I had a really bad attitude about it. I was like, `I know I have enough athletic ability and talent, I just can't get on the field.' He just kept telling me, `Keep your head up, man. Don't give up on it.' He was there for me all the time. He is pretty much driving force behind it."

Now Newsome is a dynamic playmaker for the Knights. The 6-foot-2, 202-pound receiver is a rising NFL prospect who has impressed scouts with his combination of size, speed and skills.

He has been one of UCF's most consistent contributors this season. Newsome has 27 catches for 449 yards and one touchdown, often fighting for extra yards on plays. He also is averaging 33.1 yards per kickoff return, burning teams who try kick away from speedy Quincy McDuffie. And Newsome is one of many UCF receivers who have emerged as strong blockers in the open field, helping the Knights' rushing attack.

"It's all been a blessing," Newsome said. "I have always dreamed of one day playing in the NFL, so it's wonderful that the scouts are paying attention. But that's not what really feels good right now. It's really special to be part of this team."

UCF (8-3 overall, 6-1 in Conference USA) will play at Memphis (1-10 overall, 0-7 in C-USA) Saturday. With a win, the Knights will clinch the C-USA Eastern Division title and host the conference championship.

Newsome's development has helped the Knights on their march toward their third conference title game.

Offensive coordinator Charlie Taaffe, who is in his second year leading the Knights' offense, said he is happy with Newsome's development.

"I'm really pleased with Jamar," Taaffe said. "… He's really hard to tackle. He's strong, explosive and is starting to show up. He's playing really well, really consistently. He always had great ability. For whatever reason, in my one season [in 2009], the consistency factor wasn't there. But this year, he's really stepped his game up and been a playmaker for us."

Newsome said now that he has figured out how to translate his track speed to college football, he is eager to help the Knights win a Conference USA championship.

"It's been a long transition for me from high school to college," he said. "I'm so grateful that everything is working out for me and for my team. I'm just trying to keep learning more from [receivers] coach [ David] Kelly and my teammates every single day."